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website vs. facebook
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I recommend both, plus twitter, Goodreads, and Linkedin.
I do both. I've linked my website to my Facebook and my Twitter account to save time of having to log onto both for a post. It will be time consuming, but being available in many places for a reader to find you is what I feel works the best. Over time, you'll see what's working and what isn't.
I have a fun promo page for my book on Facebook, but I'm not interested in a FB author page. There seem to be just too many of them to be effective, though I could be wrong. I have a Wordpress author site, a page on my publisher's website & my author page here and direct traffic to all of them, mainly via Twitter and general interactions on FB and other social media.
The book is selling, so something is working, but I can't pinpoint what is and what isn't!
I have a website, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+. I have it set up so all my website posts also post to the other sites. So far most of my Facebook page likes are from family and friends but I do have a couple other people on there. I use my Facebook page to get people to go to my website and quite a few people do. I'd say get on as many social media as you can and then see which ones are working best after 6 months or so. I've only been on them for a month or two so I can't really say which works best right now. Once I publish my novel I'll probably see which sites get the most traffic and then go from there.
I Doubt that I will use Facebook; i want to use a pseudonym & it doesn't allow that plus from a privacy perspective I think their policy is invasive.Technology changes rapidly and just like geocities became defunct, yahoo was overtaken by Google, and Microsoft by Apple, so will Facebook be passed by by another offering. Instagram or tumblr look interesting. Btw being mobile-friendly is very important nowadays.
I'd keep up your own website though as an archive under your control.
Wisteria wrote: "I Doubt that I will use Facebook; i want to use a pseudonym & it doesn't allow that plus from a privacy perspective I think their policy is invasive."Yes, the privacy policy on Facebook is pretty awful, but the real name requirement is for personal accounts only. An author page may have any name you wish. Business pages are not people, so there are plenty of other restrictions.
We don't write YA, or use Facebook, but a good friend who does and published her first book about 7 months ago reported disappointing results with Facebook. But I suspect the devil is in the details. My overall feeling is it's not so much where one markets but how.
I quit FB. I found it a waste of time after ... 3 years.
The only reason I have a FB page is so I can put their logo on my website. Having logos for several social sites makes you look up-to-date and hip, even when you aren't. I rarely post anything on FB, and when I do it goes nowhere. Twitter has been the most helpful, not in terms of book sales, but in driving traffic to my website.
Like several other folks, I use several online platforms - a website, blog, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, etc. Each offer their own benefits. Further, it's a case of 'the more, the better.' Individual readers may each find you through different sources, so potential readers multiple venues through which to find you.
Readers - especially young readers - are most likely to find you through social media, so it's important to have a presence there.
It's key to be active with every option you choose. A static, inactive page without current updates - whether it be social media or a website - don't attract attention. Social media in particular are interactive and are about "What's going on now?"
Further, provide information that is reader-focused. While it's easy to think and post from a me (author) perspective, readers are thinking from a reader perspective - so post content that's going to interest them. It's fine to post info on social media about what you're doing, but be sure it's info about you that's going to interest readers ("I use this resource to develop ideas - maybe this resource will interest you, too," etc.).
I heard the same thing about Instagram - teens and young adults aren't on facebook anymore as much as they are on Instagram. If that's your audience, that seems to be the place to be these days.
OK, so I have a fb & Twitter account (author pages).I link the two so there's less admin involved.
Not sure if you can link up to Instagram too? But Denise is right; 'all the cool kids' are there these days. fb is for 'the olds' (that means anyone above age 20 I find!?) ;-p
Youtube is also still pretty active; you need to have some podcasts on there (seems the best bet). Or maybe pretend to be one of those people playing video games so others can watch (it's made millionnaires!), then drop in book ads?? ;-P
I love my fb page as I get to interact with a lot more authors, and the support and banter are really useful. I don't think I have many genuine readers on there though.
Twitter seems to get filled up with a lot of ads now, and I'm not sure how much longer it can have an impact. I do get some more sales when I run ads on there, having said that.
If you have the time I'd do it.
Bekka wrote: "Like several other folks, I use several online platforms - a website, blog, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, etc. Each offer their own benefits. Further, it's a case of 'the more, the better.' Indivi..."
Excellent advice, Bekka. I suppose the question becomes: do I spend more time today on social media or on actually writing my next book? It rivals the work vs. family balance issue.
I was reading John Locke's book, how I sold (iirc) a million ebooks in five months, and his primary marketing tool was twitter. He stresses to develop online relationships, and a mailing list. Bottom line: it took him far longer than 5 months, but that wouldn't have made as good a title, ha ha.
John wrote: "Bekka wrote: "Like several other folks, I use several online platforms - a website, blog, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, etc. Each offer their own benefits. Further, it's a case of 'the more, the b..."
When I was a business consultant, the accepted rule of thumb among consultants was to consistently devote 20% of your working hours to sales/marketing so you'd have more work come your way by the time current contracts come to an end. I don't know if the exact same percentage would apply for authors, but it may be a good bet.
Bekka wrote: "John wrote: When I was a business consultant, the accepted rule of thumb among consultants was to consistently devote 20% of your working hours to sales/marketing so you'd have more work come your way by the time current contracts come to an end. I don't know if the exact same percentage would apply for authors, but it may be a good bet..."I don't want to take this off-topic, but I doubt the 80-20 model for most authors. The dynamics of selling are too different. This applies both to authors vs other fields, and also to different book genres. What works best for us is 100-0. Others will find a different mix ideal. It will vary by genre and by time. The best mix this year will be different next year. And it all depends in your goals.
Kevin wrote: "I was reading John Locke's book, how I sold (iirc) a million ebooks in five months, and his primary marketing tool was twitter. He stresses to develop online relationships, and a mailing list. Bott..."The problem with this (and others like it) is that Locke has no clear idea why he sold a million books (his sleight-of-hand not withstanding). He knows what he did and he attributes his success to his actions but establishing a causal link is tough, and the experiment is not repeatable. Another author doing the exactly same thing may sell 1000 books, or none. The bottom line is that his experience applies to him and that book specifically. Beyond him, the applicability is limited and may trend to zero.
I don't want to take this off-topic, but I doubt the 80-20 model for most authors. The dynamics of selling are too different. This applies both to authors vs other fields, and also to different book genres. What works best for us is 100-0. Others will find a different mix ideal. It will vary by genre and by time. The best mix this year will be different next year. And it all depends in your goals. 100-0 = 0 books sold. If no one knows that a book exists, they aren't going to buy it. Authors needs to participate in promoting their books to get the books into the hands of writers. Promoting isn't the sole responsibility of a publisher. It can't be. Readers want to hear directly from authors. Even J.K. Rowling traveled the world doing book tours when she was selling millions of books = her readers wanted to hear and see her directly.
Mod
However, that doesn't apply for all readers. Some genres prefer their authors to remain in the background, others want to have the author thrust to the forefront talking about their books every second of every day.
While I agree, getting your books in front of people is important, advertising does nothing. You still need a compelling story, cover, and blurb to draw in readers.
There's more to getting the word out about your book than just paying someone to do it. Word of mouth and also bought lists are great sources for passive advertising, and you haven't done a thing other than write the book.
On the whole, I agree with you. For me personally, it has helped my platform grow by leaps and bounds.
But what works for me won't work for everyone, and I got where I am by breaking half the rules that shouldn't be broken. You have to find your own path.
Mod
It typically doesn't work to rely on one single means of getting a book in front of readers - paid advertising, passive word of mouth, etc. It typically takes a variety of ongoing multiple promotions/marketing methods - both passive and active - to develop and sustain or grow a readership. A combination of efforts requires devoting time to getting books in front of readers. Of course, readers will only tell other readers about a book and come back for more if a book is well written. It's not good enough to just write well, as tempting as that may be (especially for introverts). Marketing/promotions in some variation is necessary - with a measure of time and effort devoted to it - to prevent a well-written book from being an un-read book.
Bekka wrote: "100-0 = 0 books sold. If no one knows that a book exists, they aren't going to buy it. Authors needs to participate in promoting their books to get the books into the hands of writers. Promoting isn't the sole responsibility of a publisher. It can't be. Readers want to hear directly from authors. ...."As Riley says, this does not apply universally. 100 - 0 does not mean no visibility; it means essentially no marketing done by the author. Quite a few books sell very well without the authors actively marketing. It all depends. There no rules, and no author "needs" to do anything. Each author's case is different.
Back on topic, I've heard a number of a times -- enough to think there may be something to it -- that the primary market for YA books is not young adults. According to what I heard, a lot of young adults don't much care for YA fiction, outside (I suppose) books that are international phemons. If this is true (and I would view it a matter to be investigated) that would effect the choice of platform to target.
I"m not recommending paying someone else for "packages" to help sell books. Authors need to interact with book buyers and potential buyers as part of the book marketing process. These days, social media is one aspect of that overall process.
Both Facebook and Twitter are on the downswing for the younger generation. Instagram is the new thing, along with other photo sharing sites. I have my name everywhere I can get it, but success is still pending. 8-) If you know a teenager, or an adult who reads YA, ask them which they prefer. 8-)
From what I can tell, FB is pretty much useless when it comes to garnering attention and/or sales. Twitter is good for quick connections, but not much else. Sales come and go for me, and I haven't detected yet what exactly works. I thought maybe the ads on Amazon were doing the trick, but that's hard to pinpoint. It's all a mystery for me right now. :/
So I'd love to know what other YA indie authors have had more success with and think of these platforms- do you recommend one over the other, or both?